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Thesis for degree: Licentiate of Engineering

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eactions are safely fulfilled. This is a good verification <strong>of</strong> the chosen parameters <strong>for</strong> the<br />

computational model examined in previous studies.<br />

However, it is interesting to reflect over which parameters can <strong>for</strong>m a potential risk <strong>for</strong><br />

limiting the transport processes. For the heat transport at all the domains, a larger enthalpy<br />

change or an increased reaction rate can increase the risk. Also, a lowering <strong>of</strong> the temperature<br />

can cause an increased risk but this is less significant. For the mass transport, an increased<br />

reaction rate or a decreased concentration <strong>of</strong> reactant can cause a higher risk. As mentioned<br />

be<strong>for</strong>e the effectiveness factor is affected by the characteristic dimensions <strong>of</strong> the particle<br />

which can also be confirmed here. If a change in particle diameter causes a change in the<br />

reaction rate, this may have a strong influence on the transport processes [6].<br />

To summarize, the elimination <strong>of</strong> transport gradients which limit the reaction and catalytic<br />

kinetics is complex to study. This case study, by tools to assess the transport limiting issues,<br />

seeks to locate the limiting sources and improve these <strong>for</strong> the desired outcome. The reaction<br />

rate is the most direct risk <strong>for</strong> limitation on the transport processes. If the reaction rate is<br />

increased it will affect every criterion in the analysis and can cause severe gradients which<br />

will create transport limitations. The anode and cathode structure and catalytic characteristics<br />

have an impact on the reaction rates, especially on the steam re<strong>for</strong>ming reaction, which will in<br />

turn affect the cell per<strong>for</strong>mance.<br />

4.3 Macroscale model by CFD<br />

A two-dimensional model <strong>for</strong> an anode-supported SOFC has been developed and<br />

implemented in the commercial s<strong>of</strong>tware COMSOL Multiphysics (version 3.5a). Equations<br />

<strong>for</strong> momentum, mass and heat transport are solved simultaneously. The cell geometry and<br />

SOFC operating parameters are defined in Table 4.3. It should be mentioned that this<br />

macroscale model is 2D only, and the connection between the electrodes and interconnect<br />

cannot be explicitly observed in this case.<br />

4.3.1 Case study: Internal re<strong>for</strong>ming reaction rates<br />

The flow direction is set to be from left to right <strong>for</strong> air and fuel channels as well as the anode<br />

and the cathode. It is also possible with counter flow but this is not included in this study. It<br />

should be explicitly mentioned that the length <strong>of</strong> the cell is 100 times longer than the height <strong>of</strong><br />

the air or the fuel channel.<br />

43

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